The Spirituality of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps

Team Members/Contributors

Simon J. Hendry Graduate Theological Union Contact Me

About this dissertation fellowship

This dissertation will investigate, interpret, and critique the spirituality of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), one of a growing number of Church—related full—time volunteer social service organizations that have a unique perspective on the living of Christian life. A context for understanding this spirituality is established through a description of the JVC’s 40-year history investigated through its written records and through interviews with various persons involved with its origins and development. The spirituality of the participants in its program is studied through qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey arriving at a formulation of the basic elements and themes of their spirituality. This experiential data is interpreted and analyzed using the thought of a number of sociologists, philosophers, and theologians. The overall hypothesis is that the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and the experience of its participants embodies a distinctive lay spirituality that incorporates elements of prayer, community, commitment to social justice, and simplicity of lifestyle as integral components. This makes a contribution to the understanding of both an historical movement and a contemporary phenomenon in American spirituality and has implications for the living of the Christian life today.